Liam McDonald may have only been in charge at Solihull Moors for a handful of games but he is already eyeing up a second piece of magic in The Emirates FA Cup.
The 31-year-old barely had time to take his seat at Damson Park before being thrust into the limelight, knocking out League Two Yeovil Town 4-2 on penalties last month to reach the second round.
And McDonald is hopeful giant-killings can quickly become the norm, with Yeovil’s League Two rivals Luton Town awaiting the National League side.
Luton Town v Solihull Moors
The Emirates FA Cup
Second Round
3pm, Saturday 3 December 2016
Kenilworth Road
By Ross Lawson
If the Moors can overcome the Hatters a potential showdown with a Premier League giant in the third round awaits and McDonald wants to make the most of that incentive in his sixth game in charge.
But with youth on Moors’ side in the dugout, as well as on the pitch, the former Hednesford boss believes his players will be brimming with confidence heading to Kenilworth Road.
“It’s a great draw for us, and as soon as I got into the club there was this huge FA Cup fever and everybody has been excited about this for weeks,” said McDonald, who replaced current Grimsby Town boss Marcus Bignot at the helm.
“It’s 100 per cent winnable and the players know that, the carrot is dangled for the third round – these guys could be playing the teams they support and that determination will drive the lads on.
“We’ll play with that freedom, this is the biggest game I’ve ever managed in and that’s hugely exciting from a personal point of view.
“It will be a proud day. If someone said to me three years ago I’d be managing a National League side in this round of the FA Cup it would have been a dream, but this is now my reality.”
FA Cup history
Solihull Moors are appearing in the second round for the first time in their nine-year history, with neither Solihull Borough or Moor Green – the two clubs they merged from – reaching this stage either.
Luton have been runners-up in the FA Cup, downed by Nottingham Forest in 1959, but it was their exploits a few years ago that drew much attention.
The Hatters became the first non-league side to knock out a Premier League team when they downed Norwich City in the fourth round in January 2013.
Did you know?
If Luton are forced into a replay, then they may get a chance to experience Damson Park’s ‘Tuck Shop End’ which, as the name suggests, sells an array of goodies throughout the match.
One to watch
With 12 goals already to his name this season, Solihull Moors will be banking on Akwasi Asante to deliver his usual magic.
A former Birmingham City man, who was an unused substitute in their Europa League campaign in 2011, netted hat-tricks in successive games earlier in the season, while also getting the vital equaliser in the first round replay against Yeovil.
“If you give Akwasi a chance then there’s a strong opportunity he’ll punish you,” said McDonald.
“He’s a great finisher and we’ll need to make sure he’s fully firing. He might only get one chance against Luton, but he’s more than capable of doing damage with it and that’s what we’ll be banking on.”
The prize
A place in Monday’s third round draw awaits, with the chance to take on a Premier League giant. The victors will also receive a cheque for £27,000.
